The FHBPA saluted Carlos Orantes as the Groom of the Month for April after the first race at Gulfstream Park on April 26. Carlos has been a fixture in the barn of trainer Chuck Simon at Palm Meadows Training Center for the past year and a half.
A native of Guatemala, 30-year-old Carlos pursued his love of horses in 2007 by joining his father, who was a groom at Churchill Downs. Beginning his career as a hotwalker at CD in the barn of Ronnie Werner, Carlos soon worked his way into the groom business, and the rest is history. His journey has taken him to such locale’s as Churchill, Keeneland, Fairgrounds, and Saratoga, in addition to his current work at Palm Meadows.
He has toiled in the barns of many notable trainers – Ronnie Werner, Wesley Ward, Todd Pletcher, Mark Casse, Michele Nihei, George Arnold and currently Chuck Simon. Love of horses runs in the family as his sister has joined the business, now also working at CD. Carlos is very passionate about the game, and the FHBPA is pleased to recognize his efforts.
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